Watermelon Benefits for Hepatitis C and Liver Cirrhosis

 Watermelon Benefits for Hepatitis C and Liver Cirrhosis 

 Summertime is exciting for me becaus it is height of the fresh produce season. The warm sun promises us low prices and abundant nutrition in the produce aisle, or at the farmer’s markets.  I’ve had 3 watermelons this month!  Just for fun I looked up the nutritional content on the internet. Wow! I have always thought of watermelon as a poor man’s fruit. I guess that’s because they’re inexpensive and can feed a whole house full plus company. They also make for great entertainment what with the seed spitting contests or throwing the rinds to the neighbor’s pigs. (I don’t know if they wanted us to, but we did it anyway just to watch em waller over to the fence)

I grew up on fresh produce. My Granddaddy and his brothers had a produce market where I grew up playing in the walk-in coolers, climbing up boxes of grapefruit, apples, and big burlap sacks full of potatoes. There were Jubilee and Rattlesnake watermelons from Georgia and Florida. But nothing was better than when the Black Diamond Watermelons start coming north in those big trucks. It is still the delight of every Okie.

Oklahoman’s pride themselves on eating good watermelon. The trouble is that the biggest ones come from Hope, Arkansas or from Texas. It’s the truth. Granddaddy said so. He saw a 75 lb watermelon one time. He always told us kids that the best thing in the world for you was good fruit and plenty of it. 

Watermelon is great liver cleanser and contains safe vitamins and nutrients that make them worth their weight in gold. 

Amino Acids are good for the liver. They help remove ammonia and other toxins that can add up to Hepatic Encephalopathy. Watermelon also contains arginine and citrulline . They strengthen your  arteries and blood flow. That ihelps with varies from portal hypertension need! A study where some people were given 3 glasses of watermelon juice a day and others had none. (You can guess which control group I would volunteer for) Sure enough, the amino acids blood levels were higher in the watermelon group. Citrulline and arginine are 2 of the things that watermelon is most rich in. If you have had an endoscopy reveal varices from portal hypertension, take notes.

Potassium is one of the things I like best about watermelon. Muscle cramps can be a problems with liver disease. Daddy always told us to go get a watermelon to slice if we had been sweating. He said that when you sweat, watermelon helps. I think of watermelon as God’s Gatorade. When you sweat too much, your electrolytes can become imbalanced. Potassium is responsible for keeping your nerves and muscles functioning properly. That is really important to those of us who have treated for Hepatitis C. Some people have swelling from ascites, neuropathy or other nerve and muscle related problems related to liver damage as well. Potassium helps leg cramps too?

We had stock tanks at Granddaddy’s market. He tucked watermelons into an icy bed tis they were so cold you could barely touch them. Everyone sat around the tub in metal lawn chairs. Granddaddy would split one, giving everyone a slice to bury their face in. We rarely got a soda pop, but we had all the watermelon we wanted. 

Antioxidants – Guess which fruit the most carintinoids? Yep. It’s a watermelon. I wonder if Granddaddy knew that powerful antioxidants were hidden in fruits and vegetables? Watermelon has the highest concentration of lycopene that is found in fresh produce. One cup has over 7,000 micrograms of carotinoids!  

Vitamin A and C are important, but there is also a lot of B6 which helps convert protein to energy. Help your liver with protein metabolism.  If you have some brain fog moments, just eat some more delicious fruit because B6 also helps brain function.

On summer days worked at the market fetching dollies to load  fruit boxes. I stood on the dolly with locked knees, and my brother tilted it back and off we’d go! Mostly though, my job was to stay out of the way.

We split may watermelons with family, customers, and friends.  There was usually enough room in the stock tank for me and my cousins to climb in for an ice cold swim. If the ice had melted enough, the watermelons were floating.  I would always try to ride one around like it was a big fish. Of course I rolled into the water screaming my lungs out every time.

Watermelon brings back childhood memories of simple times. I never dreamed cirrhosis or Hep C would threaten my life. My biggest worry from my days at the market was that the big cooler door would close and no one would find me before I froze to death. What I wouldn’t have given to sleep in one of those coolers with the Hepatitis C Treatment skin rash. Watermelon benefits for Hepatitis C and Liver Cirrhosis can bring cooling and hydration for your skin.

With every juicy bite you will be getting help with brain fog, portal hypertension, vitamin supplements, potassium, and leg cramps. Watermelon is used in by some as part of a liver cleanse. 

I cut mine all up at once and fill up every container in the kitchen. Then for the next few days, I can grab a bowl full for a quick snack. 

I wish you were on the back porch with me now. I will picture you sitting on your porch with a big slice. Staying cool, Karen:)

 For more articles about liver loving diet click here. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070814185634.htm

pics via noveladventures,

Watermelon Benefits for Hepatitis C and Liver Cirrhosis

Blog posts by Karen Hoyt are written from a Best Friend’s view point. I always advise you to talk with your doctor about any changes you make regarding your health care.